PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AS CORRELATES OF FOOTBALL ADDICTION AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY AKUNGBA AKOKO, ONDO STATE

Abstract

The study examined personality characteristics as correlates of football addiction among undergraduates in AAUA. Previous studies focus on personality characteristics and some addictive behaviour with less emphasis on football addiction which may be on the increase among undergraduates because of the freedom provided by the University environment. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A total of 967 undergraduates whose ages ranged between 16 and 34 (M=23.12; SD=3.34) were randomly selected from six faculties in AAUA. Big-five inventory and football addiction scale were used to measure the variables of this study. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the formulated hypothesis 1-5 and the results revealed that extraversion (β=.08, t= 2.54, p < .01), Agreeableness (β= -.28, t= -6.26, p< .01), Neuroticism (β= -.15, t= -3.96, p<.01) and openness to experience personality (β= .17, t= 4.27, p<.01) predicted football addiction. However, conscientiousness (β = -.05, t = -.92, p > .05) was not a significant predictor of football addiction. Based on the findings, further research should work on how personality characteristics serve as an important correlate of football addiction on undergraduates in other higher institutions outside Ondo State.